LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ohio State and Texas A&M, both winners out of the NCAA Tournament’s Lexington region, move on to San Antonio this week each riding the respective backs of contrasting stars.

Ohio State’s identity as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation is heavily linked to its 7-foot freshman center Greg Oden.

For Texas A&M, it’s all about senior point guard Acie Law IV, the player appropriately nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his uncanny knack to elevate his game in the most crucial moments of big games.

Both Law and Oden are game-changing, game-controlling players – Law with his quickness with the ball and scoring ability and Oden because of his defensive presence.

Law in February alone connected on four 3-pointers that either tied or won games for the Aggies. In Saturday’s 72-69 victory over Louisville in the second round, it was Law connecting on four critical free throws in the final 29 seconds to win the game.

“When you have a guard like Acie Law, when you have the composure he possesses, you’ve got a chance,” Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie said. “Everyone asks about how good Acie is at the end of games and what makes him that way. The first thing is talent. He has an enormous amount of talent. The next thing that he has is an enormous amount of confidence.

“Great players like him that have the ability to finish game like he has aren’t afraid to miss. He’s not afraid to miss.”

Penn guard Brian Grandieri said before his Quakers lost to Law’s Aggies 68-52 in the first round, “He’s very patient. His poise is unbelievable. They don’t call him ‘Captain Clutch’ for nothing. He makes tough shots and he wants to take those shots. He is pretty special.”

Echoed Louisville guard Terrence Williams, “Acie Law is the best point guard in the country.”

Oden, on the other hand, might be the best big man in the country despite his inexperience.